RO-067_HERNE HILL
Elegance meets Industrial: Single storey side return extension & full L-shaped loft conversion
A bright and light space with a very neatly detailed glass roof slot over the side return wrapped around and continued with slim profiled massive sliding doors offers the ideal open plan space for smooth entertaining. The former rear annex area together with the new side extension have been lowered by a further step and now seem to seamlessly continue onto the patio and garden space. The small but lush garden becomes the fourth space and backdrop to the sequence of front, rear reception room, kitchen-dining and garden space.
The frameless glass slot sits as nearly invisible skin between existing and new solid walls. While a massive steel beam has been hidden in the flank wall to create a continuous ceiling, the rear top floors seem to gently rest on the featured exposed steel frame in the rear elevation.
A cloak room and utility space accessible from the hall create a sensible niche in which the kitchen is positioned allowing for extra kitchen larder space as well as the social cooking and entertaining arrangements the client wished for.
A bright and light open tread staircase leads from the first floor to a split level bathroom with handcrafted tiles, walk-in shower, views over the roofs and wall integrated mirror cabinets. The L-shaped loft conversion features full width glazing and leaves the bathroom and staircase volume readable as a black box again underlined by the recessed fixed glass frame. The juxtaposition of the new sharp zinc cladding and aluminium framed windows with the old brick chimney integrates the design and character. This theme is continued at the front of the loft where the new roof structure allowed us to feature the existing front gable internally as well.
Photos: Roger Deckker